The FIA described the 18-foot long, 9-foot wide, and 8-foot tall replica of Ayodhya’s Ram Temple as a powerful cultural symbol and a testament to a historic moment for the global Indian community
A prominent Indian diaspora organization in New York has firmly rejected accusations of “communal hatred and bigotry” surrounding its upcoming annual ‘India Day’ parade. The controversy arose after the organization announced the inclusion of a tableau depicting Ayodhya’s Ram Temple in the Manhattan event scheduled for August 18, which celebrates India’s Independence Day.
The Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT-NE (FIA) revealed that the Ram Temple tableau will be a highlight of the parade. Ankur Vaidya, President of FIA, addressed the backlash, stating that “hate-filled” comments have been directed towards the parade, which has been held annually for over four decades.
A coalition of human rights and interfaith organizations criticized the inclusion of the Ram Temple tableau, labeling it as anti-Muslim. They have called on New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams to condemn and oppose the tableau.
Vaidya emphasized that the theme for this year’s celebration is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The World is One Family). He highlighted that the parade has been a community celebration for over 40 years, progressing with a focus on inclusivity and diversity. According to Vaidya, participants are allowed to express themselves peacefully and respectfully, without demeaning others.
***********************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken a small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, running a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will make a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com
